What responsibilities a product owner has in a project
Working with the Scrum framework involves different roles, each with its responsibilities. One of them is the Product Owner, who interacts with the stakeholders. Together, they work on the overall vision of the product and its release. The owner is considered one of the key figures in the Scrum methodology.
The professional in this role has many responsibilities. First and foremost, they are responsible for managing the backlog. This is a list of desired features that gets filled with new items as needed. All items in the backlog are ranked in order of importance. It is worth noting that other team members can suggest additions to the Backlog, but the Backlog owner is solely responsible for its management.
They also interact with team members and stakeholders. Together, they create a product roadmap, which helps to keep the focus on the main goal during the development process.
The owner’s responsibilities may vary depending on the specifics of the business processes. For example, they may be responsible for product strategy or task prioritisation, which includes decision-making authority. In addition, the owner is responsible for keeping the team motivated and productive. This means that they will always be available to their team members. The faster they respond to their concerns and questions, the more efficient the project will be.
How to get the role
Traditionally, the VP is the key person interested in the project. This could be an experienced marketer or developer. In this case, it is important that such a person knows the market well and understands the users’ needs. They should also understand the technology of the product itself.
Owner requirements:
- strong communication skills to work closely with all project stakeholders;
- a technically savvy person who has a clear vision of the product;
- it is essential to have an understanding of the market, the customers and the specifics of the business processes;
- constantly monitor market trends to improve the approach;
- remain flexible, be able to resolve conflict situations and motivate people.
It involves constant interaction with various stakeholders. In addition, GPs perform product validation after each sprint, which requires separate attention. It is quite resource-intensive as you have to focus on different areas.
How a product owner differs from a project manager
In some cases, product owners and Scrum masters may have project management experience. However, there are differences between these positions. For example:
- the manager is not a direct member of the development team, unlike the owner;
- the PM is responsible for managing the team through subordinates. GPs have no such subordinates;
- owners do not set project deadlines.
Despite these differences, with the proper training, a manager can become an EP and vice versa.
